Director

Local Theaters Take Steps Toward Healing: Settlements Reached in Director Abuse Case

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Bridgeport, Connecticut, is grappling with the aftermath of settlements reached in a lawsuit filed by several community theaters against their former director, accused of sexual abuse. The legal action brought to light troubling allegations against the director, who had been a prominent figure in the local arts scene. The lawsuits stemmed from claims made by multiple individuals associated with the theaters, alleging a pattern of inappropriate behavior that spanned several years. As the community sought to address the issue, the theaters involved decided to pursue legal remedies to hold the director accountable for the alleged … Read more

Star-Studded International Jury Assembles for Venezia 82 Competition, Led by Acclaimed Director Alexander Payne

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Venice, Italy – The International Jury for the Venezia 82 Competition, chaired by American filmmaker Alexander Payne, has been announced. Joining him are an esteemed group of international directors and actors, including French filmmaker Stéphane Brizé, Italian director Maura Delpero, Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu, Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof, Brazilian actress and writer Fernanda Torres, and Chinese actress Zhao Tao. Alexander Payne, known for his unique approach to storytelling, hails from Omaha, Nebraska, and boasts an academic background in history and Spanish literature from Stanford, alongside a master’s degree in film directing from UCLA. His films, … Read more

Excitement Builds as Melbourne International Film Festival Reveals Nominees for Best Australian Director and Uncle Jack Charles Award

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Melbourne, Australia — The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) has announced this year’s nominees for its prestigious Best Australian Director prize and The Uncle Jack Charles Award, setting the stage for next month’s celebration of cinema. Leading the nominees for the $50,000 Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director Award is James J. Robinson, who is also in the running for the $140,000 Bright Horizons Award for his film, First Light. He is joined by Zoe Pepper (Birthright), Samuel Van Grinsven (Went Up the Hill), and Sophie Somerville (Fwends). The winner will be selected by an esteemed … Read more

Ukrainian Director Sergei Loznitsa to Lead Esteemed Jury at Upcoming Sarajevo Film Festival

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Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina — Renowned Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa will lead this year’s jury at the Sarajevo Film Festival, which celebrates emerging cinema from the region and beyond. Joining him on the jury are Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle, and prominent industry figures including Serbian actor Dragan Mićanović, Romanian filmmaker Emanuel Pârvu, and Bosnian-Dutch director Ena Sendijarević. Loznitsa has made a significant mark in the world of film, directing 28 documentaries and five feature films. His impressive body of work includes titles such as My Joy and Donbass, the latter of which earned him the … Read more